Former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad Dies at 74

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar credited with transforming the Gulf nation into a global economic and diplomatic powerhouse, has died at the age of 74.

Sheikh Hamad came to power in 1995 and spearheaded a far-reaching development agenda that reshaped Qatar’s future. His most significant achievement was the strategic development of the vast North Field gas reserves, a move that turned Qatar into the world’s leading exporter of liquefied natural gas and one of the wealthiest countries per capita.

The wealth generated from the energy sector fuelled rapid national development and helped establish the Qatar Investment Authority, now one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with assets valued at about US$580 billion.

Beyond economic transformation, Sheikh Hamad played a pivotal role in elevating Qatar’s global profile. He supported the growth of international broadcaster Al Jazeera, championed higher education by attracting leading global universities to Qatar, and promoted culture through the development of major collections of modern and Islamic art.

Under his leadership, Qatar also emerged as an influential mediator in regional conflicts and achieved global recognition after securing hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

His legacy is widely regarded as one of the most consequential in the modern history of the Gulf region, having transformed Qatar from a relatively obscure state into a prominent player on the world stage.

By Witness A Phiri